The bad news is the Isabella football team this spring is short on numbers and experience. The good news is the coaching staff has had a good look at the players that are on the field.

“It’s good that we know what we have now and can give them that work in the spring,” Isabella coach Lanny Jones said.

The youth is most evident on defense and on the offensive line, where the only returning starter is senior left tackle Hunter Mims.

Blake Lawley started on the line last season but has been moved to fullback.

“You can’t run the ‘I’ if you don’t have a good fullback,” Jones said. “At fullback, [Lawley] will be involved in about 90 percent of the plays where it would be about 65 percent if he was still on the line.”

The rest of the offense should be in good shape as the Mustangs enter a spring game Saturday against Chilton County High at Tiger Stadium.

Quarterback Allen Edwards, backs Willie Stacy and Austin Haigler and the receivers all have experience. And Haigler, Lawley and Stacy all weigh in at over 210 pounds.

But, for now, the focus is on finding starters and backups up front on the offense and everywhere on the defense.

“You just kind of teach on the go with the 10 days you’ve got in the spring,” Jones said. “Really, what you want to see is who can do it and who can’t.”